Odor control apparatus

ABSTRACT

Apparatus for dispensing vaporizable air treating material having a remotely controllable air valve for regulating air flow through a vaporizing chamber containing the air treating material.

@mitad mates Patent [5 6] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS [72] Inventor Maynard L. Thompson,

Bloomington, Minn.

Craig ODOR CONTROL APPARATUS 7 Clnlmm', 5 lDrawIng Figs.

PATENEn um mn 3.599841 INVENTOR,

MAYNAR D L. THOMPSON ODOR CONTROL APPARATUS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to air treating apparatus and particularly to an improved air valve arrangement for regulating air flow through a vaporizing chamber containing the air treating material.

There is presently a substantial interest in air treating devices for controlling odors in residential, commercial and industrial buildings. Preferably, the apparatus should be structurally simple and allow full control of the amount of odor counteractant introduced into the air. Generally, prior art odor control dispensers have controlled the dispensing of the odor counteractant by regulating the air flow through a vaporizing chamber containing the air treating material. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,298,674, issued to Lynn Gilbertson and assigned to the same assignee as the present invention, utilizes a rotary valve arrangement to obtain full regulation of the air flow through the vaporizing chamber. However, the prior art devices, in general, are not as structurally simple as desired.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention utilizes apparatus which is structurally simpler than that provided by the prior art to remotely control the amount of odor counteractant introduced into the air.

The present invention basically comprises a dispenser housing having an air passage with an inlet and outlet, an air valve arrangement within the air passage and a vaporizing chamber connected to the air passage. Direct air flow through the air passage is prevented by a partition which divides the air passage into inlet and outlet portions. The vaporizing chamber is adapted to contain vaporizable air treating material and is connected to both the inlet and outlet portions of the air passage. The air valve means is constructed and arranged to control air flow into the vaporizing chamber by moving longitudinally toward and away from a valve seat Vwhich surrounds the connection of the vaporizing chamber to the air passage. The remotely controllable air valve means has a closed position which completely prevents air flow through the air passage and connected vaporizing chamber. The air valve means also has one or more open positions in which the air entering the inlet flows through the air passage and connected vaporizing chamber to the outlet.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a front view of the air treating apparatus and shows an inlet and outlet for receiving and transmitting air.

FIG. 2 is a rear view of the air treating apparatus with the rear cover removed.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional top view of the air valve portion of the air treating apparatus.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional side view of the air treating apparatus taken along lines 4-4 of FIGS. 1 and 2.

FIG. 4a is a cross-sectional side view of the air treating apparatus in which the air valve means is in an open position to allow air flow through the vaporizing chamber.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The front view of the air treating apparatus illustrated in FIG. 1 shows a housing 10 which encloses the dispensing apparatus. Dispenser housing defines an air passage therethrough, generally designated lll in FIG. 2, having an inlet l2 and an outlet 14. Dispenser housing 10 is normally adapted to be mounted on a cold air return duct (not shown) of a forced air heating system. A partition means divides air passage 1l into an inlet portion 11a and an outlet portion 1 1b. Direct air flow through the air passage is prevented by partition 20. A valve means, generally designated 24, is partially shown in FIG. 1. The portion illustrated comprises closure portion 26a and an elongated portion 27a extending vertically from the closure portion. Alternatively, the entire illustrated portion of valve means 24 can be designated a first valve means. A fan 28 is mounted in outlet 14. Mechanical support 29 retains fan 28 in a fixed position. Electrical energy for the fan is 'provided by leads 18a, 18h, 19a and 19b shown in FIG. 2. Preferably, fan 28 provides an air flow through the dispenser in the range of 2-5 cubic feet per minute. In the preferred embodiment, dispenser housing l0 is constructed of polypropylene. Valve means 24 is constructed of nylon, but many other materials, such as a lightweight plastic, can be utilized.

The rear view of the odor control apparatus shown in FIG. 2 displays a vaporizing chamber 30 which is adapted to contain a quantity of vaporizable air treating material 32. Preferably, the vaporizing chamber is constructed of polypropylene, but other materials, such as a lightweight plastic, can be utilized. Furthermore, the air treating material is shown as a liquid, but any volatile substance having the desired air treating properties can be utilized. The vaporizing chamber 30 is connected to both inlet portion 11a and outlet portion 11b of the air passage through openings 50a and 50b, respectively, shown in FIG. 3. The view of the air treating apparatus displayed in FIG. 2 shows the rear side of partition 20. Positioned on this side of the partition is the portion of valve means 24 not seen in FIG. 1. This portion includes closure portion 26b and an elongated portion 27b extending vertically from closure portion 26h. Alternatively, this portion of valve means 24 can be designated a second valve means. Air passage Il includes an opening 33 in housing 10 to allow air flow from inlet l2 to outlet 14 when valve 24 is in an open position. FIG. 2 further displays control means, generally designated 36, connected in controlling relationship with air valve means 24. Preferably, control means 36 is an electrically energizable actuator. As shown, the actuator includes a bimetallic element 38 having a heating element 40 positioned in relationship thereto so as to heat the bimetal upon energization of the heating element. A heating element of approximately 5-watt capacity is sufficient. Other electrically energizable actuators such vas a solenoid can, of course, be utilized. Bmetal 38 is connected to valve means 24 by connecting mean 39. A spring 41 and setscrew 42 provide biasing of bimetal 38 such that the downward force exerted by air valve 24 is approximately 30 grams at ambient room temperature. The electrical current to the heating element is supplied through electrical leads 18a and l8b. A switch, not shown, would normally be positioned in a convenient location to control the current flow through the leads.

The cross-sectional top view of the dispenser shown in FIG. 3 displays the manner in which partition 20 divides the air passage into inlet and outlet portions 11a and 1lb, respectively. This view further displays the preferred positioning of the closure portions. As shown, closure portions 26a and 26b are positioned directly opposite one another and have sides 51a and S 1b, respectively, adjacent tnc partition and substantially parallel thereto.

The cross-sectional side view of the air treating apparatus shown in FIG. 4 further illustrates air valve means 24. In FIG. 4, the entire elongated portion, albeit in cross section, is illustrated. The entire elongated portion is generally designated 27. From this view, it can be seen that elongated portion 27 has one end which connects both closure portion 26a and closure portion 26b. The connecting end has a longitudinal slit 52 which is positioned such that the partition 20 extends into the slit. As shown, partition 20 and elongated portion 27 are vertical within substantially horizontal air passage 11. Valve seat means 54 surround the connections of vaporizing chamber 30 to the inlet and outlet sides of the air passage through openings 50a and 50h, respectively. As shown, the valve seat means is simply the rim of dispenser housing 10 surrounding openings 50a and 50b. A spring 55 positions vaporizing chamber 30 in contact with the dispenser housing surrounding opening 50a and 50b. Spring 55 permits easy removal of the vaporizing chamber for refilling.

In operation, valve means 24 is in contact with valve seat 54 when the valve is in its closed position. This prevents air flow from inlet 12 through air passage 11 and vaporizing chamber 30 to outlet 14. Also, partition 20 prevents any direct air flow through air passage 1l. When it is desired to dispense air treating material 32 into the air, actuation of control means 36 opens valve means 24. Normally, actuation of control means 36 is achieved by closing a switch (not shown) which provides current flow in leads 18a and 18b. The current flow energizes heating element 40. The energized heating element causes bimetal 38 to bend in a direction away from valve seat 54. As a result, valve means 24 moves longitudinally away from valve seat 54 to an open position as shown in FIG. 4a. When valve 24 is open, air entering inlet l2 passes into vaporizing chamber 30 through opening 50a. The vapors of the volatile air treating material 32 are picked up by the air flow, illustrated as dashed line 60, flowing through the vaporizing chamber. The air flow containing the air treating vapors exits the vaporizing chamber into outlet portion 11b through opening 50b. Fan 28 is actuated simultaneously with energization of the control means and pulls the treated air through opening 33 of air passage ll. The treated air exits the odor control apparatus through outlet 14. When it is desired to terminate dispensing of the air treating material into the air, the electrical current through leads 18a and 18b is switched off resulting in the deenergization of heating element 40 and fan 28. As heating element 40 cools, bimetal 38 returns to its original position closing valve means 24.

The air treating apparatus discussed above can easily be altered by one of ordinary skill in the art to allow variable control of the amount of air treating material dispensed into the air. For example, this can be achieved by varying the amount of heat generated by heating element 40, thereby selectively regulating the extent to which bimetal 38 opens valve 24. Alternatively, the speed of fan 28 can be selectively varied thereby regulating the air flow rate through the dispensing apparatus.

The simplicity and ease of manufacture of the preferred embodiment described above will be readily appreciated. Furthermore, whereas several modifications of this preferred embodiment have been described, it will be obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art that further modifications of this embodiment can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

The embodiments of the invention in which I claim an exclusive property or right are defined as follows:

l. Apparatus for dispensing a vaporizable air treating material into air for controlling odors therein, comprising:

a dispenser housing having walls providing an air passage having an inlet and an outlet;

partition means in said passage positioned between the inlet and outlet to divide the air passage into inlet'and outlet portions and to prevent air flow directly through the air passage from the inlet to the outlet;

a vaporizing chamber attached to one side of said housing adapted to contain a quantity of vaporizable air treating material, said housing having openings therein communicating with said chamber on opposite sides of said partition,

air valve means having control surfaces movable toward and away from areas of said housing walls surrounding the openings therein for controlling air flow through the vaporizing chamber from the inlet portion of the air passage'and to the outlet portion of the air passage, the valve means having a closed position in contact with the housing walls and one or more open positions away from the housing walls, and

control means connected in controlling relationship with the air valve means to position the control surfaces thereof with respect to the housing walls.

2. The air treating apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein:

the air valve means includes first valve means constructed and arranged to regulate air flow into the vaporizing chamber from the inlet portion of the air passage, and second valve means constructed and arranged to regulate air flow out of the vaporizing chamber into the outlet portion of the air passage, and

the control means is adapted to operatively control the first and second valve means.

3. The air treating apparatus as defined in claim 2 wherein the first and second valve means are positioned adjacent the partition means on opposite sides thereof and include connecting means to operatively connect the first and second valve means to provide substantially identical operation of the first and second valve means.

4` The air treating apparatus as defined in claim l wherein:

the valve means includes closure portions on the inlet and outlet sides of the partition longitudinally movable toward and away from the housing walls in the inlet and outlet portions, respectively, and

an elongated portion, having one end connecting the closure portions and having a longitudinal slit in the end connecting the closure portions, the valve means being constructed and arranged so that the partition dividing the air passage extends into the slit in the elongated portion, and

the control means are operatively connected to the elongated portion to selectively open and close the closure portions.

5. The air treating apparatus as defined in claim 4 wherein:

the air passage within the dispenser is substantially horizontal;

the partition dividing the air passage and the elongated portion of the valve means are substantially vertical, and

the closure portions are positioned directly opposite one another and each include a side adjacent the partition and substantially parallel thereto.

6. The air treating apparatus of claim 5 wherein:

the apparatus further includes a fan for moving air through the air passage and vaporizing chamber when the valve means is in an open position, and

the control means is adapted to control the fan and includes an electrically energizable actuator operatively connected to the air valve means to open and close the air valve means.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the electrically energizable actuator includes a bimetallic element having a remotely controllable heating element associated therewith, the bimetallic element being positioned to operatively control the air valve means upon activation of the heating element. 

1. Apparatus for dispensing a vaporizable air treating material into air for controlling odors therein, comprising: a dispenser housing having walls providing an air passage having an inlet and an outlet; partition means in said passage positioned between the inlet and outlet to divide the air passAge into inlet and outlet portions and to prevent air flow directly through the air passage from the inlet to the outlet; a vaporizing chamber attached to one side of said housing adapted to contain a quantity of vaporizable air treating material, said housing having openings therein communicating with said chamber on opposite sides of said partition, air valve means having control surfaces movable toward and away from areas of said housing walls surrounding the openings therein for controlling air flow through the vaporizing chamber from the inlet portion of the air passage and to the outlet portion of the air passage, the valve means having a closed position in contact with the housing walls and one or more open positions away from the housing walls, and control means connected in controlling relationship with the air valve means to position the control surfaces thereof with respect to the housing walls.
 2. The air treating apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein: the air valve means includes first valve means constructed and arranged to regulate air flow into the vaporizing chamber from the inlet portion of the air passage, and second valve means constructed and arranged to regulate air flow out of the vaporizing chamber into the outlet portion of the air passage, and the control means is adapted to operatively control the first and second valve means.
 3. The air treating apparatus as defined in claim 2 wherein the first and second valve means are positioned adjacent the partition means on opposite sides thereof and include connecting means to operatively connect the first and second valve means to provide substantially identical operation of the first and second valve means.
 4. The air treating apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein: the valve means includes closure portions on the inlet and outlet sides of the partition longitudinally movable toward and away from the housing walls in the inlet and outlet portions, respectively, and an elongated portion, having one end connecting the closure portions and having a longitudinal slit in the end connecting the closure portions, the valve means being constructed and arranged so that the partition dividing the air passage extends into the slit in the elongated portion, and the control means are operatively connected to the elongated portion to selectively open and close the closure portions.
 5. The air treating apparatus as defined in claim 4 wherein: the air passage within the dispenser is substantially horizontal; the partition dividing the air passage and the elongated portion of the valve means are substantially vertical, and the closure portions are positioned directly opposite one another and each include a side adjacent the partition and substantially parallel thereto.
 6. The air treating apparatus of claim 5 wherein: the apparatus further includes a fan for moving air through the air passage and vaporizing chamber when the valve means is in an open position, and the control means is adapted to control the fan and includes an electrically energizable actuator operatively connected to the air valve means to open and close the air valve means.
 7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the electrically energizable actuator includes a bimetallic element having a remotely controllable heating element associated therewith, the bimetallic element being positioned to operatively control the air valve means upon activation of the heating element. 